Clara M. Byrd Dickson

Clara Mae Byrd, the only daughter of Hiram Wesley and Lillie Katherine Deaton Byrd, was born in Carlton, TX on April 10, 1916. She began working with S. H. Kress Co in San Angelo in the early 1940’s. There in 1942, she met the love of her life, an airman from Mississippi stationed at Mathis Field. After a brief courtship, she married Cecil L. (Dick) Dickson in San Angelo on April 17, 1943. In 1953, following the tornado, they built the family home in North Angelo. It was always a center for good times and happy meals. In the 1950’s & 60’s, she became “Mom” to many airmen stationed at Goodfellow AFB who have kept in touch as “adopted sons”… including Bob Coulson and a number of others. She lived in the family home after the homegoing of her beloved husband in 1999. In 2007, she moved to Lubbock to live with her daughter until May of this year when she returned to San Angelo where she became a resident of Park Plaza Nursing Center. She was preceded in death by her parents, as well as her brothers: Wesley, Coy and Roy Byrd.

She is survived by: her son, Larry, his wife, Sandy, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; her son, Andy, his wife, Becky, two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; her daughter, Mari, her husband Ron, five step-grandchildren and seven step-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her faithful companion…Miss Daisy. From her husband’s family, she is survived by a sister in law, Vida Ray Anderson of Hattiesburg, MS; and two brothers-in-law—Stacy Lamar Dickson and his wife, Esther, of Iowa, LA, and Thariel W. Dickson of Granbury, TX; as well as a number of nieces, nephews and extended family who dearly loved her.

The family will receive friends at Johnson’s Funeral Home on Wednesday evening, September 7th. between the hours of 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. The Memorial Service will be held Thursday, September 8th, at 1:30 p.m. at Johnson’s Chapel, 435 W. Beauregard. Officiating will be a dear family friend, Rev. Rocky Youngblood of San Angelo. In her honor, memorial gifts may be made to Faith Assembly of God, P.O. Box 5007, Granbury, TX 76049.